Obituary: Walter Potter

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Walter Marshall Potter, Jr., passed away at home in Truckee on June 5, 2013, after a long battle with cancer.

A lifelong Californian, Walt was born in Merced on May 31, 1944, and graduated from Golden Gate University. He began his law enforcement career on the staff of San Quentin prison, then became a police officer in Belvedere. Walter transferred to the force in Sausalito and then joined the police department in Fairfax.

Walter served as Chief of Police in Fairfax from 1986 until he retired in 1993. He then moved to Truckee and served as Chief of Security at Northstar. Walt was an avid collector of historical law enforcement memorabilia.

Walter is survived by his wife, Melissa Potter, and her children, including her youngest, Taylor Wulff-Morrison, and by Walt’s children, Craig Potter and Jill Pechter, and his grandchildren, Samuel, Jack and Dan Pechter. A private cremation was held in Truckee. A celebration of Walter’s life will be held this summer in the Bay Area, details to be posted on his Caring Bridge webpage.

Donations in memory of Walt would be much appreciated at the Tahoe Forest Cancer Center or Hospice.